The first duty of government is the protection of life...(Spurious Quotation)

Quotation: "The first duty of government is the protection of life, not its destruction.  Abandon that, and you have abandoned all."

Variations:

1. "The chief purpose of government is to protect life.  Abandon that, and you have abandoned all."

Sources consulted:

1. Papers of Thomas Jefferson
2. Thomas Jefferson retirement papers
3. Thomas Jefferson: Papers and Biographies collections in Hathi Trust Digital Library

Earliest appearance in print found: 1989^[1]

Comments: This quotation has not been found in the writings of Thomas Jefferson.

- Anna Berkes, December 29, 2011